"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to," Gladestar said. She paused, uneasily. "I talked to the elders this morning, when you came. They said that we should consider it a possibility for you to join the clan," Gladestar paused, waiting for the rogue's reaction to this offer. Surely she would bitterly decline.

"The stars will always shine, but the mountains will never bow." Darkleaf, sat down in sudden frustration. "If only Applepaw were here..." he paused, alarmed that he mentioned the former apprentice. "Forget I said that, it's a long story I'd rather not go into." 

((I actually didn't have an answer in mind when I wrote it, but I do no. :3 Mysteriez=WIN *squee!* Want me to tell you? Or surprise?))

"I don't know," Darkleaf admitted. It was obvious that it frustrated him. "Come, the sun is setting," he said, before the apprentice could answer. He took a deep breath to calm himself before trotting into the enclave beneath the water fall. The mist made it difficult to see. He lay down and relaxed, shutting his eyes and waiting.

Gladestar thought for a moment. "Starclan is difficult to explain," Gladestar began. "And it started with the birth of the warrior code. I don't recall the story of how it was made very clearly, but the elders have made an excellent point of remembering it, in case you were curious. All warriors in the clan live by a code, that keeps the balance, for the sole purpose of honor, peace, and the promise of Starclan." Gladestar's tail swished. "I as.sume that Darkleaf has told you the basics-- Starclan is where cats go when they die, granted they don't break the warrior code beyond reason throughout their lives. A cat who deliberately breaks the code out of self-interest or heartlessness will be doomed to the Dark Forest, Starclan's opposite." Gladestar paused, to see if Pippen was getting all of this, or if she was just rambling uselessly. 

Gladestar smiled in fond memory, when she, as a kit asked the very same questions to her mother.

"Mama, why am I always called Gladekit? I wanna be Gladestar like Thrushstar!" Gladekit squealed, bouncing in excitement.

Ferntip only laughed. "That's just how clans are my love. When you're six moons, we'll call you Gladepaw, because you need an extra paw to help you learn the ways of a warrior, and then you'll earn the name you deserve, based on your skills. If you're really special, then you can be Gladestar, but until then, you're my littl Gladekit."

Gladestar snapped out of her flashback and smiled at Pippen, wondering how to explain the name changing. "Well, it's difficult to explain why we do it, but it helps make every cat individual. We allow queens to choose the first half of each of their kits' names; We owe it to them for giving birth. They are called 'kit' because they are only kits, and haven't developed personalities or abilities yet. When they're six moons, they become apprentices to a warrior for training, and the last part of their name is changed to 'paw' in a ceremony, because the warriors are lending their paws to the young cats for training. When a young cat is fully trained, he or she get a grand warrior ceremony, where they take the name they will have for the rest of their life, unless they become leader or decide to change their name upon retiring to the elder's den.  Medicine cat apprentices get different names to symbolize their skills with herbs, and when a warrior becomes leader, they are worthy of more than just their personality names. You see, when the previous leader dies, the deputy goes and visits Starclan at the Moonfalls, and is blessed with nine lives to lead their clan. To symbolize the change, we change our name to 'star'." Gladestar realized too late that this was a lengthy explanation. She hoped she didn't bore Pippen.

---

Darkleaf finally let himself relax, and the mist dampened his fur. He could feel it's coldness after closing his eyes and drifting into dreams.

It was bright in Starclan. Darkleaf could smell the prey running about the hunting grounds, and the scent of catmint rose up from beneath his paws. He took a deep breath, savoring the scent. He blinked and looked around. He could smell another cat, but he couldn't be sure who it was. "Applepaw?" he asked hopefully.

"No Darkleaf," meowed and old and familiar voice. It was obviously Nightcloud. Darkleaf couldn't help to be disappointed. "Applepaw isn't in Starclan-- not yet."

Darkleaf's heart pounded with excitement. "Where is she? Can she be saved?" he asked too quickly.

"Be patient Darkleaf," Nightcloud snapped, "The apple isn't far from the tree, and the tree isn't far from the woods."

"The valley? With the foxes and rogue clan?" Darkleaf questioned. But Nightcloud was already fading. 

Gladestar nodded. "It's true. Only Darkleaf and Wingpaw know how many lives I have left," Gladestar smiled, "Figuratively speaking, I would kill you first." Gladestar purred with a wink.

((You can skip over Wingpaw's dream, or have Nightcloud come and personally tell her the prophecy.)) 

"Well, the leader and deputy are in charge of the came, but the medicine cat and his or her apprentice are respected as well," Gladestar answered. "Queens, Kits and Elders are always allowed to eat first, followed by everyone else. Apprentices are only allowed to eat after they've hunted for the day, or if their mentor gives them permission."

---

Darkleaf blinked awake slowly. "Did you dream Wingpaw?" he asked, softly in case she hadn't woken yet. 

"Sounds disgusting," Gladestar said in a half-purr. "You have two days to observe, I feel that's reasonable. But while you are here, you must hunt for yourself and remain in the medicine cat's den, that way you're not bothering our warriors. It's nothing personal, it's just a formality."

---

"Impossible," Darkleaf said comfortingly, "You're more of a medicine cat than I will ever be," he purred, nuzzling her on the forehead. "Let's get back to camp before dawn, that way Sageburn won't wake up all by herself; or worse-- alone with a rogue," Darkleaf chuckled at this prospect darkly, and then nimbly climbed down the steep crag towards camp.

Sageburn groaned in annoyance. Everything was blurry. Her tail was throbbing. She couldn't even remember what happened. "Go away," she snarled, her voice hoarse. "It's moon high, mouse-brain." Too tired to make much sense of what she was saying, she rolled over and went back to sleep.

Gladestar nodded a Pippen. "Be aware that once you choose to be in our clan, you cannot turn back," she said gravely, "You cannot live with a paw in two worlds." *misses Bluestar* 

((Sageburn's not going crazy. -_- She's hurt, and it's moonhigh.))

Darkleaf was exhausted by the time they reached camp. "Tread lightly, cats are sleeping," he reminded Wingpaw. He noticed Thunderbird heading out of the medicine cat's den. "What are you doing awake?" he hissed, "I told you to rest, and by Starclan you will," angry at Thunderbird's defiance, he flicked his tail to the medicine cat's den. "Go in there," he ordered, his tone quieter, "and don't bother me or Sageburn."